Health hazard evaluation report: HHE-80-103-827, Joel and Aronoff, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 80-103-827, 1981 Feb; :1-14
Abstract
Worker exposures to organic vapors were surveyed on April 22 to 24, 1980 at Joel and Aronoff (SIC-2750) in Ridgefield, New Jersey. The evaluation was requested by an unspecified individual on behalf of 54 workers, following complaints of burning eyes and tongues, sore throats, breathing difficulties, chest pains, dizziness, nausea, and rashes among decal manufacturing workers. Personal breathing zone samples were collected, ventilation rates were measured, and workers were interviewed about work related health problems. Screen printers were exposed to a cleaning solvent containing xylene (1330207), toluene (108883), methyl-isobutyl-ketone (108101) (MIBK), and methyl-ethyl-ketone (78933) (MEK), and to isophorone (78591), in concentrations ranging from 42 to 85, 149 to 356, 52 to 126, 12 to 25, and 0.7 to 14 parts per million, respectively; the corresponding OSHA standards are 100, 200, 100, 200 and 25 parts per million. Twenty seven of the 35 employees interviewed reported periodic work related symptoms. Capture velocities of local exhaust hoods over the printing presses were below detectable limits, while those of the exhaust systems in the screen cleaning room were up to 50 feet per minute. The authors conclude that screen printers are exposed to hazardous concentrations of cleaning solvents and isophorones. Recommendations include ventilation improvements and product substitution.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-80-103-827; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Region-2; Organic-vapors; Health-surveys; Air-sampling; Industrial-hygiene; Organic-solvents;
Author Keywords: Commercial Printing; screen printing; cleaning solvents; isophorone; toluene; xylene; methyl isobutyl ketone; methyl ethyl ketone; methylene chloride; trimethylbenzene; 2-ethoxyethyl acetate; formaldehyde; respiratory irritation; neurological symptoms
